What is the water quality grade for Shavehead Lake?

Shavehead Lake in Cass County, Wisconsin received a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Surface area: 93 acres.

Is Shavehead Lake safe to swim in?

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Shavehead Lake has an overall water quality grade of C. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What fish are in Shavehead Lake?

Fish species found in Shavehead Lake include Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brook silverside, Brown bullhead, Golden shiner, Grass pickerel, Green sunfish, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, Lake chubsucker, Lake herring, Largemouth bass, Mimic shiner, Northern logperch, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Sand shiner, Spotted gar, Tadpole madtom, Warmouth, Western blacknose dace, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch. Shavehead Lake is located in Cass County, Wisconsin.

Shavehead Lake

Cass County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic

Shavehead Lake is a 93-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, MI. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 26 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Blacknose shiner. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Shavehead Lake ranks #12 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	7 ft	C
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)	49	Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Lake Details

Characteristic	Value
Surface Area	93 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Shavehead Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Shavehead Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

→ Shavehead Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #12 of 23 lakes in Cass County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Shavehead Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.

A
Birch Lake Central Basin; Porter Township
Cass County · 3.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Cass County

Stone Lake Central Basin; Jefferson Township

Cass County

Birch Lake Central Basin; Porter Township

Long Lake South Central Basin

Cass County

Robbins Lake; Porter Township; Section 33

Cass County

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Panfish-rich, public access

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Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin

Brooks Lake

Leelanau County · Clarity: 9.5 ft

Van Etten Lake North Central Basin; Oscoda Township

Iosco County · Clarity: 5.5 ft

White Lake

Muskegon County · Clarity: 6.8 ft

Little Lake Twenty

Gladwin County · Clarity: 9 ft

East Twin Lake

Montmorency County · Clarity: 9 ft

Seymour Lake; Brandon Township; Section 34

Oakland County · Clarity: 9 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Middle Lake; Elba Township; Section 13 Portage Lake Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township Bear Lake East Basin; Pleasanton Township

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Shavehead Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Shavehead Lake Level Control Structure (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the Mud Creek; earth-type dam, 6 ft tall and 14.5 ft long.

Surface area: 93 ac
Normal storage: 260 ac-ft
Max storage: 320 ac-ft
Drainage area: 0 sq mi
Hazard class: Low
Owner: Cass County

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00764 · Operator website

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2022-10-15

Monitoring stations: 1